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A keyboard structure includes a light guide plate, a circuit board and a
key sheet sequentially disposed on a reflecting sheet. A plurality of
scattering and reflection points is located under the light guide plate
and at least one light-emitting element on one side of the light guide
plate. The key sheet has a one-piece formed body and a plurality of
pressing portions. The plurality of pressing portions may be actuated to
shift and conduct a sensor on the circuit board. Each pressing portion
further has a light transmissive area. A light ray emitted by the
light-emitting element passes through the light guide plate, and is
reflected by the reflecting sheet to the light guide plate and the key
sheet. Then, the light ray comes out of the key sheet through the light
transmissive areas of the pressing portions.

1. A keyboard structure, comprising: a reflecting sheet; a light guide
plate, disposed on the reflecting sheet; a plurality of scattering and
reflection points, disposed between the reflecting sheet and the light
guide plate; a circuit board, disposed on the light guide plate and
having a plurality of sensors electrically disposed thereon; a key sheet,
disposed on the circuit board and having a one-piece formed body and a
plurality of pressing portions, wherein the pressing portions protrude
from one side of the body away from the circuit board, the body contacts
the circuit board, the pressing portions are normally suspended above the
sensors, and each of the pressing portions further has a light
transmissive area, the pressing portions are actuated to shift and
trigger the corresponding sensor; and at least one light-emitting
element, adjacent to the light guide plate, wherein the light-emitting
element emits a light ray to the light guide plate, the light ray passes
through the light guide plate to the scattering and reflection points and
the reflecting sheet, is reflected by the reflecting sheet and the
scattering and reflection points to the key sheet, and then comes out of
the key sheet through the light transmissive areas.

2. The keyboard structure according to claim 1, further comprising a
protection layer disposed on one side of the key sheet away from the
circuit board, wherein the protection layer has a plurality of light
transmission holes, the light transmission holes respectively correspond
to the light transmissive areas of the pressing portions, and the light
ray comes out of the protection layer through the light transmission
holes.

3. The keyboard structure according to claim 2, wherein the light
transmission holes form a letter or symbol graphic on the light
transmissive areas.

4. The keyboard structure according to claim 1, further comprising an
adhesion layer between the body and the circuit board, wherein the key
sheet is bonded on the circuit board by the adhesion layer.

5. The keyboard structure according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board
is a membrane circuit board.

6. The keyboard structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the
pressing portions has a conducting element support structure, the
pressing portions electrically contact the sensors and trigger the
sensors through the conducting element support structures.

7. The keyboard structure according to claim 6, wherein the conducting
element support structure has a conducting particle, the conducting
particle corresponds to one of the sensors, and the conducting element
support structure electrically contacts the corresponding sensor through
the conducting particle.

8. The keyboard structure according to claim 1, further comprising at
least one fixing member penetrating the reflecting sheet, the light guide
plate, the circuit board, and the key sheet sequentially, so as to bind
the reflecting sheet, the light guide plate, the circuit board, and the
key sheet as a whole.

9. The keyboard structure according to claim 8, further comprising a
frame laminated on the key sheet, wherein the frame corresponds to the
fixing member, and the fixing member is locked on the frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a keyboard structure, and more
particularly to a luminant keyboard structure.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] Keyboards are commonly seen in the peripheral input devices of
electronic products like computers, cell phones or personal digital
assistants (PDAs) to serve as the operation media for the user to input
control commands to the electronic products.

[0005] Generally speaking, in the assembly of the keyboard, a circuit
board and a plurality of sensors disposed on the circuit board are
usually disposed in a casing, and a plurality of key structures exposed
outside the casing is disposed on the plurality of sensors. Each key
structure further comprises an elastic member, a support member, and a
key cap. The elastic member is disposed on the sensor of the circuit
board, and the support member is sleeved on the elastic member. The
support member is a scissor structure composed of two brackets which are
crossed and may rotate relative to each other. One end of the two
brackets is connected to the key cap, and the other end is supported on
the circuit board, such that the key cap is pushed by the support member
to suspend above the circuit board. Therefore, when the user exerts an
external force to press the key cap, the two brackets are overlapped,
such that the key cap compresses the elastic member to trigger the sensor
to complete the input operation of the control commands. Moreover, after
the external force exerted by the user is released, the key cap under the
rebound resilience of the elastic member drives the two brackets to
return to the initial state.

[0006] However, the components of this key structure are complicated,
which need much manpower and time to assemble the key structure in the
assembling and manufacturing process of the keyboard and further causes
the problem that the manufacturing cost of keyboard is extremely high.
Furthermore, after the assembly of the scissor-type key structure, two
neighboring key structures have slits therebetween, and thus dusts and
moisture may enter the casing through the slits to cause the damage of
other electronic components in the casing.

[0007] Furthermore, in addition to the complicated assembly of the
traditional keyboard, since the keyboard does not have a luminant device
design like the key structure, the keyboard is not suitable for the user
to operate in different light brightness like in the dark room or in the
vehicle, and the user cannot clearly identify the function and attribute
of each key structure, but has to search for them on the keyboard based
on the operation experience, which may result in the electronic devices
take wrong actions due to the error of input instructions and is quite
inconvenience in practical use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In view of the above problems, the present invention is a keyboard
structure, for solving the problems that the components of the key
structure of the conventional keyboard are too complicated and the
conventional keyboard is not suitable for the environment of low light
brightness.

[0009] The present invention provides a keyboard structure, which
comprises a reflecting sheet, a light guide plate, a plurality of
scattering and reflection points, a circuit board, a key sheet, and at
least one light-emitting element. The light guide plate is disposed on
the reflecting sheet, and the plurality of scattering and reflection
points is attached below the light guide plate and located between the
reflecting sheet and the light guide plate. The circuit board is disposed
on the light guide plate, and a plurality of sensors is electrically
disposed on the circuit board for conducting signals to the system so as
to perform instructions or character identification. The key sheet is
disposed on the circuit board, and has a one-piece formed body and a
plurality of pressing portions. The pressing portions protrude from one
side of the body away from the circuit board, and the key sheet contacts
the circuit board by the body, such that the plurality of pressing
portions are normally suspended above the plurality of sensors.

[0010] Each pressing portion further has a light transmissive area. The
plurality of pressing portions is actuated to shift, and the conducting
particle below each pressing portion triggers the corresponding sensor.
The light-emitting element is adjacent to the light guide plate, and the
light-emitting element emits a light ray to the light guide plate. The
light ray passes through the light guide plate, the reflecting sheet, and
the plurality of scattering and reflection points to the key sheet, and
then comes out of the key sheet through the light transmissive areas of
the pressing portions.

[0011] The present invention has the effects that the body and pressing
portions of the key sheet are one-piece formed, so the procedure of
assembling the key sheet on the keyboard structure is simplified. At the
same time, the light-emitting element is disposed, which allows the user
to use in the environment of different light ray brightness, e.g. the
environment of dim light ray and the keyboard operation without
restrictions, so the feasibility of the keyboard structure is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus
are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of
the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment
of the present invention; and

[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of
the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard structure according to the first
embodiment of the present invention comprises a reflecting sheet 10, a
light guide plate 20, at least one light-emitting element 30, a circuit
board 40, a key sheet 50, and a protection layer 60. The light guide
plate 20 is disposed on the reflecting sheet 10, and a plurality of
scattering and reflection points 70 is disposed between the reflecting
sheet 10 and the light guide plate 20.

[0017] The scattering and reflection points 70 may be selectively
distributed on one side of the reflecting sheet 10 facing the light guide
plate 20 or on one side of the light guide plate 20 facing the reflecting
sheet 10 by printing, etching, or injection molding. This is only a
different manner of disposing the plurality of scattering and reflection
points 70 between the reflecting sheet 10 and the light guide plate 20,
but the present invention is not limited herein. Furthermore, the
plurality of scattering and reflection points 70 form reflection points
between the reflecting sheet 10 and the light guide plate 20, such that
the light ray produced by the light-emitting element 30 after passing
through the light guide plate 20 may be reflected outside the keyboard
structure by the plurality of scattering and reflection points 70.

[0018] The light-emitting element 30 is electrically connected to the
circuit board 40 in the form of a lamp tube or a light emitting diode
(LED). When the circuit board 40 is disposed on one side of the light
guide plate 20 away from the reflecting sheet 10, the light-emitting
element 30 is located between the circuit board 40 and the reflecting
sheet 10 and is adjacent to the edge of the light guide plate 20, such
that the light ray produced by the light-emitting element 30 may be
delivered to the reflecting sheet 10 and the plurality of scattering and
reflection points 70 by the light guide plate 20. The circuit board 40 is
a transparent flexible circuit board (e.g. membrane circuit board)
disposed on the light guide plate 20, and a plurality of sensors 410 is
electrically disposed on the circuit board 40.

[0019] The key sheet 50 is disposed on the circuit board 40, and the key
sheet 50 may be bonded on the circuit board 40 selectively by an adhesion
layer 80 formed of the adhesive substance like the double-sided adhesive
tape or adhesive glue so as to enhance the bonding strength of the key
sheet 50 and the circuit board 40. The key sheet 50 is formed of a
transparent material, like the plastic, rubber or silica having the light
transmissive property. The key sheet 50 has a one-piece formed body 510
and a plurality of pressing portions 520, and the pressing portions 520
protrude from one side of the body 510. Therefore, when the key sheet 50
is disposed on the circuit board 40, the key sheet 50 is bonded on the
circuit board 40 by the body 510, such that the plurality of pressing
portions 520 protrudes from the circuit board 40 and forms an
accommodation space 530 with the circuit board 40.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the plurality of pressing portions 520
respectively corresponds to the plurality of sensors 410, and the
plurality of pressing portions 520 is normally suspended above the
plurality of sensors 410. Each pressing portion 520 further has a light
transmissive area 521 and a conducting element support structure 522. The
light transmissive area 521 corresponds to the light guide plate 20, and
the conducting element support structure 522 is disposed surrounding the
light transmissive area 521 in the accommodation space 530, such that the
light ray produced by the light-emitting element 30 after reflected by
the plurality of scattering and reflection points 70 may come out of the
keyboard structure through the light transmissive areas 521 without being
blocked by the conducting element support structures 522.

[0021] The conducting element support structure 522 and the pressing
portions 520 may be one-piece formed on the key sheet 50. Alternatively,
the conducting element support structure 522 is made of a conductive
material, and may be disposed in the accommodation space 530 in any
suitable bonding manner and is connected to the pressing portions 520.
The conducting element support structure 522 has a conducting particle
523, the conducting particle 523 corresponds to the sensor 410 of the
circuit board 40, and is spaced at a distance d from the sensor 410, such
that the pressing portions 520 when pressed by the user may provide the
action travel for the conducting particle 523 to electrically contact the
sensor 410.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the protection layer 60 is disposed on the key
sheet 50, and the protection layer 60 may be, but not limited to, black
lacquer coated or sprayed on the surface of the key sheet 50. A plurality
of light transmission holes 610 is disposed on the protection layer 60,
and the light transmission holes 610 respectively correspond to the light
transmissive areas 521 of the pressing portions 520. For example, the
light transmission holes 610 in the form of a letter and/or symbol
graphic are cut at the position corresponding to each light transmissive
area 521 on the protection layer 60 in a manner of laser marking, such
that the light ray reflected by the plurality of scattering and
reflection points 70 may come out of the protection layer 60 through the
light transmission holes 610, such that the light transmission holes 610
may present a bright letter or symbol graphic on each pressing portion
520, for the user to identify and press.

[0023] Furthermore, a frame 90 may be selectively disposed on the
protection layer 60. The frame 90 is laminated on the edge of the
protection layer 60, and meanwhile a fixing member 91, like a screw or
bolt, passes through the reflecting sheet 10, the light guide plate 20,
the adhesion layer 80, the circuit board 40, the key sheet 50 and the
protection layer 60 sequentially, and is locked on the frame 90, such
that the above elements are bound as a whole, and the closely binding of
the frame 90 and the fixing member 91 may prevent moisture from entering
into the keyboard structure to cause the damage of the keyboard
structure.

[0024] Based on the above keyboard structure, when the user operates the
keyboard structure, the light-emitting element 30 produces a light ray,
and the light ray passes through the light guide plate 20 to be delivered
to the reflecting sheet 10 and the plurality of scattering and reflection
points 70. Thereafter, the light ray is reflected by the reflecting sheet
10 and the plurality of scattering and reflection points 70 to be
projected on the light transmissive area 521 of each pressing portions
520. After passing through the light transmissive area 521, the light ray
is delivered outside the keyboard structure through the light
transmission holes 610 of the protection layer 60, and thus the light
transmission holes 610 form the bright letter and/or symbol graphic on
the keyboard structure.

[0025] At this time, the user may clearly identify the position of each
pressing portion 520 on the keyboard structure and the letter or symbol
graphic corresponding to the pressing portion 520, and may selectively
press the pressing portions 520. The conducting element support structure
522 of the pressing portion 520 electrically contacts the sensor 410 of
the circuit board 40 by the conducting particle 523, so as to trigger the
sensor 410 to execute the corresponding input instruction. After the
external force exerted on the pressing portion 520 is released, the
pressing portion 520 may be suspended above the sensor 410 again based on
the rebound resilience of the material of the key sheet 50, such that the
conducting particle 523 is separated from the sensor 410 and the pressing
operation of the user is over.

[0026] Moreover, to enable the user to clearly identify the input
instruction corresponding to each pressing portion on the key sheet, in
addition to the first embodiment in which the light transmission holes
present the letter or symbol graphic of each pressing portion, as shown
in FIG. 2, in a second embodiment of the present invention, the
protection layer 60 is disposed on the light transmissive areas 521 of
the pressing portions 520, and is directly arranged into the letter or
symbol graphic. Therefore, when the light ray goes to the ambient
environment through the light transmissive areas 521 and the light
transmission holes 610 of the protection layer 60, the light ray
illuminates the protection layer 60 around the protection layer 60, and
thus the user may clearly identify the letter or symbol graphic of each
pressing portion 520.

[0027] Alternatively, the keyboard structure according to a third
embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3 may adopt a key
sheet 50 made of an opaque material, and the protection layer is not
disposed. Meanwhile, a hollow light transmissive area 521 is cut on the
pressing portion 520 by laser marking, and the light transmissive area
521 of each pressing portion 520 has different letters or symbol
graphics. Therefore, after the light ray produced by the light-emitting
element 30 is reflected by the plurality of scattering and reflection
points 70, the light ray may directly come out of the key sheet 50
through the light transmissive area 521, and further produce the bright
letter or symbol graphic on each pressing portion 520 for the user to
identify and operate.

[0028] The effects of the present invention lie in that the key sheet is
composed of the one-piece formed body and the plurality of pressing
portions, so in the assembly of the keyboard structure, the operator just
dispose the single key sheet on the circuit board to finish the disposing
of the keys, which simplifies the assembling procedure of the keyboard
structure. Besides, the one-piece formed pressing portions may prevent
dusts and moisture and thus form the man-machine interface with more
reliable functions.

[0029] Moreover, the bright letter or graphic presented on the pressing
portions by the light ray produced by the light-emitting element allows
the user to press to input instructions under the guidance of the light
rays in the dark or dim environment, such that the keyboard structure
will not be easily influenced by the ambient brightness and the
feasibility of the keyboard structure is improved.